Funding for Learn to Row Courses
As part of the build up to the 2012 summer Olympic games, Sport England are planning to launch "The London Summer of Sport".
This will be an annual event, for each of the next seven summers, organised in conjunction with the GLA and the London Boroughs.
In their words, this will be a "promotional opportunity to showcase and promote the sporting calendar of events and activities through the summer months in London" and an opportunity to encourage people to participate in sport. The first summer for this project will be this year, running from May to September.
There are two ways that this can benefit activities in your clubs.
First, this is an opportunity to get some PR in your local community for learn-to-row or taster sessions (or fun ergo competitions at regattas - basically anything that involves new people in the sport) that clubs are running between May and September this year.
We would like to tie this in with publicity for the World Championships and some junior Indoor Rowing events
that are being planned; and clubs may wish to consider holding beginner events in early September to co-incide with the interest in rowing that the World Championships is likely to generate.
Second, there is a small possibility that Sport England might be able to offer some fund taster days or learn-to-row courses.
If funding does become available then it can be used to pay for coaches or equipment but must be used to subsidise your course/day (preferably so that it becomes free to participants).
In order for rowing to be part of this project, the Thames region CDOs have been asked to send information to Sport England by the 21st April.
We would therefore be grateful if clubs who planning any learn-to-row or taster sessions this summer, could contact Simon blackburn at simon.blackburn(at)ara-rowing.org, providing a breakdown of the costs to your club, incase you should wish to claim in the event that funding for them becomes available.